...what works in Ontario, Canada is generally a 'buck-a-day-per-node' calculation...(so: $ 30.00 per month per PC - a little more per Server, depending on spec - and any network devices, if of the 'managed' kind)...note that this is strictly 'preventative' maintenance - i.e. updates, patches, defrags, log reviews etc. - customers tend to ride the maintenance contracts to get extra service (i.e. get you to 'fix' errors and issues you discover without paying for the troubleshooting/resolution service...so careful w/how you stipulate the service and the expectations you set)...

...as an added 'bonus' for the customer; on-site rates are discounted by 20% if they are on a maintenance plan (note that the maintenance plan pricing is subject to the customer site being accessible remotely - if maintenance is to be done onsite, the rates are higher as you'd have to factor in travel time and costs as well) - and if they sign up for a retainer (pre-pay for bulk support hours up-front, yearly renewable contracts; then their hourly rate works out to 35% better than the pay-as-you-go menu rate)...

...now there are some very competitive markets in Ontario - flooded w/cheap 'tech-help-for-hire' services...we choose not to wage price wars - but if your customer happens to be in a zone like that and you choose to pursue, be prepared to 'give away' the preventative maintenance for FREE to secure the customer...

12 Replies

...what works in Ontario, Canada is generally a 'buck-a-day-per-node' calculation...(so: $ 30.00 per month per PC - a little more per Server, depending on spec - and any network devices, if of the 'managed' kind)...note that this is strictly 'preventative' maintenance - i.e. updates, patches, defrags, log reviews etc. - customers tend to ride the maintenance contracts to get extra service (i.e. get you to 'fix' errors and issues you discover without paying for the troubleshooting/resolution service...so careful w/how you stipulate the service and the expectations you set)...

...as an added 'bonus' for the customer; on-site rates are discounted by 20% if they are on a maintenance plan (note that the maintenance plan pricing is subject to the customer site being accessible remotely - if maintenance is to be done onsite, the rates are higher as you'd have to factor in travel time and costs as well) - and if they sign up for a retainer (pre-pay for bulk support hours up-front, yearly renewable contracts; then their hourly rate works out to 35% better than the pay-as-you-go menu rate)...

...now there are some very competitive markets in Ontario - flooded w/cheap 'tech-help-for-hire' services...we choose not to wage price wars - but if your customer happens to be in a zone like that and you choose to pursue, be prepared to 'give away' the preventative maintenance for FREE to secure the customer...

Ok, I'm looking for what most charge for a monthly rate (if anything) for just routine maintenence (as above) - stuff the customer doesn't directly get involved in, but is needed to keep a server / domain up and running.

Also, give your location as a reference, so I know what the cost of living difference would be. For example, an average hourly rate in my market would be $75+ per hour for domain work.

1st Post

Ian
You are under selling yourself. Very badly. IT AS A SERVICE (IAAS) companies tend to charge 90 to 120 dollars an hour. For onsite and even remote support.
Some choose to charge a bit more for the first hour. And then lower the price for additional hours.
Always, hardware and software is extra and very much pushed upon since that means onsite visit for installation.
After having said all this to set the stage for the customer. (This is reactive support)
Now for proactive support. (This is a garuanteed residual income that requires a contract signing. And it can be decreased with a one two or three year commitment) it is ideal to have committed income for lots of reasons. Loans from banks. Hiring employees. Planing an upgrade for office space. And to quit looking for more work. (If you are a one man show)
So to make the proactive option look better (which in reality it is better, since you can do the work remotely. And multitask at the same time. Try to be onsite at more that one company at a time. See my point here.) you lower the price for committed clients to maintain their systems before problems come about.
If you charge $130 for onsite at the first hour and $90 for each additional hour. For one break fix issue. It wouldn't take the owner long to figure out that a proactive solution could be of value. At $25/workstation and $45/server. Per month.
We all know that computers don't need touched every month. So the income will be easy work. And as always establish what you do for your monthly checks. And anything outside is extra or a project.
I hear in your words that you may have a self esteem issue. By not having worked for a company that should have showed you how to make money by fixing computers.
I just gave you the central Arkansas , USA prices.
I have to turn people away all the time since I don't have time to do their work.
Being certified and having experience justifies charging the big dollar prices.
-tim

$20 an hour is $40k/year roughly. Good pc repair people should make a luxury lifestyle salary or wages.
Be confident in what you do. Get a support group to discuss higher level issues. And you can really go far with PC repair.
Part of the higher charges are for you to get more education. Who pays for that. Well each customer pays along the way.